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[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pumpkin's Journey to Pie Land" by D. Tennelle Smith.]

4 out of 4 stars
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This is a review of the story Pumpkin’s Journey to Pie Land: A Taste Worthy Tale written by D. Tennelle Smith. This is a book that is definitely geared towards young children, as it tells the story of a genuine pumpkin, named Pumpkin, and what happens to it as the autumn season stretches on towards winter. Pumpkin really wants to know what happens next, as Halloween and Thanksgiving pass by without any change from its sitting upon the porch of a kindly lady. It knows its special time is soon to be over for the year, and does not want to end up simply discarded in the trash. Pumpkin yearns to be wanted and useful, not just tossed away and forgotten about. As we follow along through the end of the story, we get to see how Pumpkin’s wish is made into a reality.

The author does a great job of combining the simple concept of following a pumpkin through the changes it goes through in the autumn, and ties it in with a recipe that uses the whole pumpkin by the end of the story. It is written very well, as the author uses Pumpkin’s perspective to draw the reader into the tale immediately at the onset. I think that young children will truly enjoy thinking about how Pumpkin is concerned about how it can be put to good use, instead of just being a castoff at the end of its season. It is a story that will help both young and old alike, to think about the prospect of utilizing food and other possessions in the most full, effective way they possibly can. This is a good lesson for sure, and is along the lines of, “Waste not, want not” that has been used by many a parent for generations.

Another thing about the book that I enjoy, is how the author uses the story to get the children to begin to understand about making something from scratch. In this instance, food is the final product, but I believe that it will open a child’s mind to other projects they can make with other materials as well. The story also gives a chance for the parent to do a project along with the child which can never be underestimated in importance. The relationship building in the story a very nice touch.

The only negative that I have about the book is that there were actual pictures to accompany the text, rather than illustrations. It might simply be a personal preference, but I believe that drawings would have worked better with the spirit of the book rather than the photographs.

All in all, I was very pleased by this nice little story and highly recommend it for both children and parents alike. Also, any cooks out there looking for a great homemade recipe might want to give this one a look too. I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars! Congratulations to the author on an excellent book!

Since the premise is that Pumpkin wants to be useful, the author should consider writing more books with Pumpkin and turning it into a series. Pumpkin can help Santa and his elves at Christmastime, help save the turkey from turning into Thanksgiving dinner, etc. Kids always like to read about a favorite character's further adventures.

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship" - Louisa May Alcott

I really enjoyed your review, rssllue! It sounds like such a cute, enjoyable story for kids! Out of curiosity, what age group do you believe this book would work for? It seems very young, but with vocabulary, that might not hold true.

Thank you for wonderful review and congratulations to the author for getting a great review!